Even though this world had Mingnu—women blessed with mystical powers—and even though the girl herself had transformed from the historical Cao Cao into the young lady now called Mengde, it was clear that this was neither the Eastern Han of history nor that of Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
It was an entirely new world built on a familiar framework.
After all, how could a normal worldline include things like divine powers?
Still, even though this was clearly a fantastical version of the Eastern Han, the current era was the chaotic end of that dynasty, and the enemy before them was none other than Hua Xiong—the same man later slain by Guan Yu in the legendary “warm wine beheading.”
So, in order to ensure Liu Bei could win this duel, Mengde decided to employ some metaphysical tactics and give him a battle buff.
With that thought in mind, the girl returned to the carriage.
She opened a box hidden beneath the seat cushion, retrieved a wine jug and a cup, then carefully poured the warm wine until the cup was full.
Holding the cup with both hands, she stepped down from the carriage.
“Xuande!”
To add weight to the moment, Mengde deliberately called out Liu Bei’s courtesy name—one he had not yet officially adopted.
Hearing the girl call out from behind, Liu Bei hurried over, his expression puzzled.
“Is something wrong?”
“Drink this hot wine—to stir your courage!”
Mengde solemnly held out the cup with both hands, her gaze fixed earnestly on him.
Seeing that Mengde had personally brought him wine, Liu Bei stared at the girl’s delicate face, and a surge of emotion rushed through his veins.
His heart pounded with renewed vigor.
“Yes!”
He replied boldly and took the cup in both hands, downing it in one go.
A few drops of wine trickled down his chin, catching in his beard.
As the warm liquid settled in his stomach, Liu Bei felt heat rise through his entire body.
A grand, heroic spirit surged from within his chest.
“Go get him!”
“You got it!”
Mengde clenched her fists and cheered him on.
Liu Bei gave a firm nod, silently vowing to himself that he had to win this fight.
He turned and rode back to the front lines.
Facing Hua Xiong once again, he shouted loudly: “Come on! You—Hua Xiong—face me, Liu Xuande, in a duel to the death!”
Hua Xiong squinted at Liu Bei.
Recalling how that beautiful girl had just poured him wine and cheered him on, he glanced to both sides at the bunch of rugged, burly men around him.
A wave of jealousy washed over him.
“You pretty boy! So what if some girl gave you wine? On the battlefield, it’s still martial strength that counts! Let’s see if you can keep your head after this!”
Though Hua Xiong’s tone was angry, everyone present could hear the sour jealousy in his voice.
***
Once again, their weapons clashed.
But this time, Liu Bei—now bolstered by the warm wine buff—clearly had the upper hand.
Hua Xiong’s attacks looked sluggish and unsteady.
Just the thought of Mengde watching from behind filled Liu Bei’s arms with seemingly limitless strength.
As Hua Xiong brought his broadsword down, Liu Bei blocked it with one sword, then used the other in his left hand to thrust toward Hua Xiong’s neck.
Hua Xiong hurriedly bent backward to dodge, but this was exactly what Liu Bei had been waiting for.
Seizing the moment of imbalance, he kicked Hua Xiong hard in the chest, knocking him clean off his horse.
“Agh—!”
Hua Xiong hit the ground with a pained cry.
He still remembered he was in the middle of a duel with Liu Bei, so the moment he hit the ground, he struggled to get back up.
But before he could even rise to his feet, the tip of Liu Bei’s longsword was already pressed against his forehead.
“You lost,” Liu Bei said with a slight smile.
Though Hua Xiong was still unwilling to accept it, he stopped struggling.
After all, he had fallen from his horse and was now lying on the ground, unable to even stand.
If he kept resisting, Liu Bei could end his life with just the slightest pressure of his right hand.
***
A few minutes later, Liu Bei brought the captured Hua Xiong before Miss Mengde.
Liu Bei cupped his hands respectfully.
“I have fulfilled your command.”
“Why are you being so formal with me?” Mengde said with a smile.
Liu Bei scratched his cheek awkwardly at her reaction.
Then, Mengde’s eyes turned sharp as she looked toward Hua Xiong, her tone turning serious.
“You… you’re from the regular army, aren’t you? Which county garrison are you from?”
Hua Xiong’s expression immediately tensed.
He quickly tried to deny it.
“You brat! What nonsense are you spouting? How could I be from the regular army? I’m just a roadside bandit, robbing travelers, that’s all!”
“Don’t call yourself naigong this, naigong that! Watch your mouth!” Mengde frowned in annoyance, then pointed to the soldiers surrounding the caravan and sneered.
“Are you stupid, or do you think I am? What kind of bandit rides horses, wears armor, and carries a spear? If the Han Empire had bandits like that, it would’ve collapsed long ago. You’re the tunzhang of this unit, aren’t you?”
[In the Han military system: 5 men made a squad (wu), 10 a section (shi), 50 a team (dui), and 100 a company (tun), with the commander being the tunzhang or company leader.]
Mengde had estimated the size of the group surrounding them to be around a hundred soldiers, so it made sense to deduce that Hua Xiong was just a tunzhang.
Besides, Hua Xiong looked to be in his early twenties at most.
It was still nearly fifteen years before the coalition of the Eighteen Warlords, when he’d famously be slain by Guan Yu.
It was unlikely he held a high rank now.
But Hua Xiong kept insisting.
“Tunzhang? What tunzhang? I’m their boss! Don’t spout nonsense!”
He knew full well that if his ties to the regular army were exposed—and if this girl from a noble family reported it to the local authorities—he would be in serious trouble.
Seeing Hua Xiong refuse to admit the truth, Mengde gave a cold snort, her tone growing impatient.
“Hmph! Still not owning up? That’s fine. I already know your name. I’ll just head over to the county seat in Linjin and ask the Governor myself. Let’s see if there really isn’t a tunzhang named Hua Xiong in the Anding Commandery’s army.”
“You wouldn’t dare!” Hua Xiong finally panicked when Mengde casually mentioned seeking out the Governor.
‘Who is this girl?!’
Meeting a regional Governor wasn’t something just anyone could do.
Hua Xiong had already suspected this girl came from a powerful family, but he never imagined her background was so influential that she could so easily get an audience with the Governor of Anding.
“Why wouldn’t I?” Mengde replied calmly.
“You’ve already been captured. Do you think your men could stop us now?”
At that, Hua Xiong finally lowered his head and gave in.
“Fine, fine! I admit it! I’m the tunzhang of this unit. We really are troops from Anding Commandery…”
Hearing him finally confess, Mengde couldn’t help but feel a moment of satisfaction.
But she quickly composed herself.
“Then let me ask you—if you’re regular soldiers, why are you out here robbing people?”
“Well…” Hua Xiong hesitated for a moment. But under the sharp pressure of Mengde’s gaze, he had no choice but to answer with an awkward laugh, “Just trying to find a way to survive, that’s all…”